Incumbent Mayor, Council members re-elected; Measure MM defeated

Maher joins Arkin on school board; Ruegsegger in slight lead over Hintzke as vote counting continues

Crowds jam Handles Gastropub Tuesday night at rally for Councilman Jerry Pentin, who was re-elected; former Hart Middle School principal Steve Maher, who was elected to the school board, and Planning Commission chairman Herb Ritter, who trailed in his bid for a City Council seat. (Photo by Jeb Bing.)

Incumbents in the race for Pleasanton mayor, City Council and school board were re-elected Tuesday in a spirited contest that also saw Measure MM rejected by a substantial plurality of voters who voters who appeared to favor opening a Costco Warehouse store in the city.

Former Hart Middle School principal Steve Maher also was elected to the Pleasanton school board by a wide margin, leading the race well ahead of incumbent Valerie Arkin, who was re-elected to a four-year term.

Pleasanton USD Governing Board Members

Vote for no more than Three (3)

Total Precincts: 64 Precincts Reported: 64 Percent Reported: 100.00

Contest # of Votes % of Total

NP - Steve Maher 16620 38.31

NP - Valerie Arkin 10204 23.52

NP - Jamie Yee Hintzke 8256 19.03

NP - Kathleen Ruegsegger 8202 18.91

Write-in 97 0.22

Unofficial results show challenger Kathleen Ruegsegger edging out incumbent Jamie Hintzke and current school board president by only 26 votes to earn the third open seat on the board. But with many vote yet to be counted, that could change.

Republican Assemblywoman Catharine Baker retained her 16th Assembly District seat, winning over her Democratic challenger and former Pleasanton Councilwoman Cheryl Cook-Kallio with 56% of the votes.

Mayor Jerry Thorne handily won re-election, garnering nearly twice the number of votes of his challenger Julie Testa. Councilwoman Karla Brown also received the most votes cast in the council race, well ahead of Councilman Jerry Pentin, who also was re-elected, and challenger Herb Ritter, the city Planning Commission chairman who trailed Pentin by a narrow margin.

Mayor - Pleasanton

Vote for One (1) Only

Total Precincts: 46 Precincts Reported: 46 Percent Reported: 100.00

Contest # of Votes % of Total

NP - Jerry Thorne 13749 62.91

NP - Julie Testa 8047 36.82

Write-in 60 0.27

Members, City Council - Pleasanton

Vote for no more than Two (2)

Total Precincts: 46 Precincts Reported: 46 Percent Reported: 100.00

Contest # of Votes % of Total

NP - Karla Brown 13941 41.53

NP - Jerry Pentin 10012 29.82

NP - Herb Ritter 9553 28.46

Write-in 65 0.19

Refresh Results Last Update: Nov 11 2016 4:38PM

Measure MM - City of Pleasanton

Needs majority Yes votes to pass

Total Precincts: 46 Precincts Reported: 46 Percent Reported: 100.00

Contest # of Votes % of Total

No 14653 62.93

Yes 8630 37.07

The City Council will hold a regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday with a formal swearing-in ceremony for the re-elected incumbents on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

With Measure MM defeated, work is expected to resume then on creating an economic development zone on Johnson Drive, where Costco has indicated it would like to build its third Tri-Valley store.

The unofficial election results include early vote-by-mail tallies and totals reported by the precincts on Election Night. The election figures will likely change in the coming days as final vote-by-mail ballots, provisional ballots and other qualifying ballots are processed, according to the California Secretary of State.

Bond Measure I1 - Pleasanton USD

Needs 55.00% majority Yes votes to pass

Total Precincts: 64 Precincts Reported: 64 Percent Reported: 100.00

Contest # of Votes % of Total

Bonds Yes 15792 67.91

Bonds No 7464 32.09

Editor’s note: Continued coverage of local election results will follow in the days to come on PleasantonWeekly.com.

Comments

79 people like this

Posted by Resident
a resident of Downtown
on Nov 9, 2016 at 8:56 am

Now that Bill Wheeler lost his bid for free employee parking, at great expense to the taxpayers for the ballot measure, it's time for the city to paint a red curb all along Johnson Drive and get started on the construction.

Congratulations to Katherine Baker, who is a hard working, responsive Assembly woman for us. We have exchanged emails several times, and she always responds to my questions in a timely manner. Congratulations to Karla Brown, whom I voted for.
It looks like we are still going to have problems with rapid growth.Too bad Swalwell was re-elected in a landslide.
There was an article recently about crime in some condos, can anyone tell me where that neighborhood is? Thanks.

I voted for Maher and Rueggsegger and would never in a million years vote for someone who endorsed Cook-Kallio. Why they would endorse someone who didn't show up for meetings and was subject of a Grand Jury investigation for lax oversight is beyond me.

The comment about Swalwell I totally disagree with. I think Swalwell is one of the most dedicated congressmen we have had in a long time. I think we will see him in the White House, sometime in the future.

I have to disagree with Don. Swalwell is a puppet of the current administration, towing the liberal, globalist Obama line. This corrupt administration has just been defeated, and We the People are taking this country back. I am not a big Trump supporter, but change is desperately needed.

Posted by Sue
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 9, 2016 at 11:42 am

We will see now if our City Council and City Manager can negotiate a better deal with the giant COSTCO who wants special treatment to avoid paying the impact fees all other retail stores have had to pay. Why give COSTCO a gift at the expense of the electorate? The behind the scenes negotiations were an effort to push for COSTCO and keep it from the public. Shameful that the CEO of the Chamber joked about not letting "the whole world" know about it.

With the vote on Lund Ranch so close and so many voting for MM, I think the initiative and referendum process is just fine as is. It is enormously difficult and time consuming to gather signatures and put issues on the ballot so if the residents are passionate they should seek that means to be heard. It is the democratic way.

As for parking...this is a problem all over the city. I wonder where "resident of downtown parks - is it free?" Maybe COSTCO should "share parking" with all the small businesses on Johnson Drive who will be impacted by the widening of Johnson Drive if they want the privilege of doing business in the zone.

Posted by School board races
a resident of Birdland
on Nov 9, 2016 at 11:44 am

I am disappointed in the blatant lies that Cook-Kallio put in the many mailers that came to my house. Baker responded in a Youtube and the San Francisco Chronicle said that Cook-Kallio was engaging in a smear job against Baker. Here is the Youtube Baker posted in response to Cook-Kallio's lies:

Posted by kmary1
a resident of Country Fair
on Nov 9, 2016 at 12:50 pmkmary1 is a registered user.

If you looked at who sent out the mailers on Cook-Kallio and Baker, you'll notice it was the Democratic and Republican parties, not the individual candidates. Both parties were guilty of smear campaigns. Disgusting.

Posted by School board races
a resident of Birdland
on Nov 9, 2016 at 1:28 pm

The lax oversight and Cook-Kallio's no shows for the ACAP Committee are well documented in the Grand Jury report and the Contra Costa Times. This ad about Cook-Kallio's absenses, fraud and waste is factual: Web Link The mismanagement and lack of oversight of the ACAP JPA is a matter of public record.

Most of the attack mailers attacking Baker with false statements came directly from Cook-Kallio's re-election committee and her affiliated Democratic party operatives.

Baker's assessment of the attack mailers sent by Cook-Kallio? She used the word "garbage" and I agree.

Posted by Anonymous
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 9, 2016 at 2:11 pm

To "School Board races"- Steve Maher endorsed Cook-Kallio. There are pictures all over Facebook where she is at his fundraisers, wearing his shirt. She would talk highly about him every chance she could get. She wouldn't have done that had he not endorsed her. Cheryl only lists elected officials and community leaders on her website, so he wouldn't be listed. Maybe you should have checked more thoroughly before you voted.

Posted by Truth Teller
a resident of Village High School
on Nov 9, 2016 at 3:43 pmTruth Teller is a registered user.

@ School Board Races: There is NO the democratic party would have endorsed Maher without his endorsement of Cook-Kallio. That how these things roll. Who did Cook-Kallio endorse? Being a former teacher, why didn't she have more school board member endorsements? The more you know, the more sick to your stomach you will be - just move on.

Posted by Uncle Sam
a resident of Bridle Creek
on Nov 9, 2016 at 5:22 pmUncle Sam is a registered user.

Congratulations to Catharine Baker for running an honorable campaign. I have had the pleasure of meeting the Assemblywoman in person, and she is the type of politician this country needs - straight forward and not afraid to do the right thing, irrespective of the party. Go CB!

Posted by AR15
a resident of Stoneridge
on Nov 10, 2016 at 8:13 amAR15 is a registered user.

As a resident who passes by Johnson Dr frequently, I am concerned about more traffic. I would not mind a Costco with a gas station, but traffic at commute time is already heavy at the intersection of Johnson and Stoneridge. There would have to be improvements made, and I think Costco needs to pay for the privilege of operating in our fair city.

Posted by Local Voter
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 10, 2016 at 6:55 pmLocal Voter is a registered user.

Thank you Birdland for your first, top (school board) posting about
CATARINE BAKER & the YOU TUBE link to many interesting CATHARINE postings.
I never knew they existed. She is humble, but most of all she is amazing. I don' know how she DOES ALL that the does !!! and with east, grace, knowledge, efficiency. We are lucky to have her.

Posted by AR15
a resident of Stoneridge
on Nov 11, 2016 at 8:43 amAR15 is a registered user.

Look at the violence of the far left since the election. This shows the level of hatred and fanaticism in their hearts. Look at the lackluster response from most city leaders. I support our right to peacefully protest, but people who break the law need to be arrested and charged. And the students involved are a disgrace.

Posted by Get the Facts
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 11, 2016 at 9:29 amGet the Facts is a registered user.

"And the students involved are a disgrace."

Would you say that if Clinton was the winner? I doubt it, you'd think the students were amazing and honorable for protesting the Clinton victory.

I hope we can agree that the disgraceful people are those who are being violent and destroying property. At every protest or march or wherever it gets crazy, it is caused by opportunists who want to cause destruction and have no thoughts about elections or the cause at hand. These are not Clinton people or anti-Trump people who are becoming destructive, just as they would not be Trump people or anti-Clinton people if the election had gone the other way. They are people who want to take advantage of a situation to cause destruction and violence, and this happens over and over again.

Posted by AR15
a resident of Stoneridge
on Nov 11, 2016 at 9:43 amAR15 is a registered user.

I mostly agree with Get the Facts. I did not name names. I mentioned the far left. I think students who walk out of class and delay exams over this are a disgrace, and have no discipline. It's partly the teacher's fault.
If the far right were breaking and burning, burning Obama in effigy, and burning the American flag, there would be a huge outrage, not sympathy. I think burning the flag should be a chargeable offense, not free speech. I am a veteran, and my flag is flying for Veteran's Day.

Posted by Get the Facts
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 11, 2016 at 10:23 amGet the Facts is a registered user.

Marching in protest is long tradition in this country, and has helped bring about change in many ways. These students should be admired, even if you disagree with them being out of class. (I do agree that being out of class is not good, but I doubt any exams were delayed.)

"...and have no discipline" Actually, it takes a lot of organization and discipline to do this the very next day! I wish they were in class, but I'm impressed nonetheless!

"It's partly the teacher's fault." I am a teacher, and this statement is SO offensive.

Posted by AR15
a resident of Stoneridge
on Nov 11, 2016 at 10:38 amAR15 is a registered user.

To Get The Facts. I am not referring to you;I have had some great teachers in my life, who had a big influence on me, as well as a couple of bad ones. I apologize. I respect the teaching profession. I am referring to to some teachers and proffs who have are overly permissive. I went to 10 yrs of Catholic school in the 50s/60s, followed by 2 yrs in a strict conservative public school, and yes, I felt oppressed. I had a few years of rebellion myself, but never protested.
I am worried about the lack of tolerance on campus for opposing viewpoints, free speech is sometimes denied, and I am against students running the campus.